'Life' in Prison: Part Two

By Heather Janssen&nbsp|&nbsp

Posted: Tue 11:05 PM, Oct 31, 2017&nbsp|&nbsp

Updated: Thu 11:43 PM, Nov 02, 2017

Imagine finding out you're going to be a mom -- but instead of picking out nursery decorations or buying cute maternity outfits -- you're sporting an entirely different look. The American Journal of Public Health says between 6 and 10 percent of women in prison are pregnant.

In one year, 14-hundred women nationwide gave birth while incarcerated.And South Dakota women are a part of those statistics.

At last check, there were around eight offenders pregnant at the South Dakota Women's Prison in Pierre.In part on, we told you about the struggles female inmates face when expecting - but there's emotional pain that lingers afterward.

Meth runs rampant in lives of people you'd never expect it to.Kathryn Piatt was raised with five siblings - went to Catholic school - and studied at Black Hills State University.Now after years of meth addiction, Piatt says, "It's something I struggled with for 20 years. She's here - serving time for drug charges at the South Dakota Women's Prison in Pierre.But there was more in store for her upon arrival.

Piatt says, "Coming here and finding out I was pregnant here, that was definitely a wake up call all in its own."Piatt gave birth to her first child, Nicholas, back in June.Piatt says, "I ended up having the baby in Sioux Falls because my blood pressure was high. I delivered a month early."She says the experience was scary - but amazing.Through her time here at the Women's Prison, she's facing the facts of her decisions -Piatt says, "He's first and foremost the only thing - the main reason I'm going to get out and stay out."- and missing out on a whole lot of Nicholas' firsts.Piatt says, "It's all the little things. Being able to watch him walk and say his first words, I'm already missing out on so much. He's already a month old. I've already missed out on a lot so -- (emotional) -- sorry."Stories like Piatt's aren't unheard of.They happen every time a woman gives birth while incarcerated. It's why staff at the prison work hard and offer programs to strengthen the bond between mom and baby.Mothers can take parenting classes leading up to child birth - and through that, can have the baby in her cell room for up to 30 days after it is born.

Brent Fluke, Warden at the South Dakota Women's Prison says, "We really want to establish that connection between the child and the mother. We recognize that's important upon birth and we want to give every opportunity to that offender - even though they're incarcerated."More than half of pregnant inmates opt into the program - and often times, work tirelessly towards a better future once they're released.Fluke says, "They recognize that childbirth is very important for all mothers and they want to make sure the child is placed in the best situation so they strive to get out upon their release date."Piatt was not enrolled in these parenting classes herself - but nonetheless - is anxious to go home to her baby boy.Piatt says, "Not being able to go home with him was sad. But hopefully soon."

Since we filmed this story over the summer, Kathryn Piatt has been put on work release status, working towards her future, and living at the Saint Francis House in Sioux Falls - near her family and her son, Nicholas.She's up for parole in April of 2018.